Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

THAT'S LIFE!

“RECENTLY I AMONG MANY OF MY FELLOW CHRISTIANS AT OUR CHURCH, EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN DEATH AND LOSS OF A DEAR FELLOW MEMBER. IT CAUSED US ALL TO CONSIDER THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about life, and what it’s all meant to be …

Recently, a very wonderful sister in the Lord, at the local church I serve for Christ, suddenly fell in death. It was a shock to everyone, and her loss is deeply felt by all. She served the church in many ways for years and enriched our lives by her presence. We will all sorely miss her. Yet as Scripture says,

1 Th 4:13-14 (NIV)  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

The hope of true Christianity is that those who are believers in the faith of Jesus Christ, are promised by God we shall see those who have died, and be with them again for all eternity in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. This gives us much hope and assurance that death is not the end, but while we wait on earth it causes us all to consider the shortness of life, and the real meaning and purpose of it. So after our second musical pause for this broadcast day, I’ll return with what I believe the Lord has laid on my heart to share with you concerning life and what you should consider in the shortness of it for us all. So, don’t go away, I’ll be right back with today’s message entitled: THAT’S LIFE!..

… Death is a sobering thing! It’s all around us, and never stops its call, to claim the lives of the living among us. At the Church where I serve as pastor in Grand Junction, Colorado, our church family experienced this is recently in the sudden death of a very dear and beloved sister in the Lord. It caused us all to consider the shortness of life and its real meaning and purpose while we are here. The other day in my Sunday Bible Hour Fellowship class, before the morning worship service, I was teaching on 1st Corinthians and we came to chapter four. In it God answered this question for me and the class, of what life is all about. I want to share this with you now.

For starters the New Testament book of 1^st Corinthians is a dramatic writing of God delivered to the Christians of the first century in the ancient city of Corinth. Corinth in ancient Europe, at that time, was a bustling city filled with people from all over the Mediterranean since it was a seaport. The city was known for it intellectual achievements, but also for its seedy side of life. Most of all, it was a city without any hope beyond the life people lived. Life was cheap, and short at best. No one had any real hope of the future. It was a gloomy life for most people there. That is, until the apostle Paul was sent there by God to preach and proclaim the Good News that Jesus Christ had come and delivered a world lost in sin and death to life eternal. This “Good News,” is of course the main message of the Bible, and more, the main message the church of Jesus Christ is to proclaim to the entire world in every generation. Those who hear, accept it, and respond to it by surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ, receive the blessed hope and promise of the life to come through eternal life in Christ. Yet, Paul the apostle who wrote this letter to the Corinthians spoke of life here and now, and to help us all have a better understanding of what the Creator God, who gave us this life, expects from us all. Now, in chapter four of First Corinthians, we are told the following about life which I think we all need to consider. The Bible tells us,

1. LIFE IS A CALLING OF SERVICE TO GOD  (Ezek 18:4; 1 Cor. 4:1-2) - We all come into this world with the idea that we are our own god, and that we are not accountable to anyone but ourselves. Some grow up into adulthood believing this deceitful idea, and live their lives utterly for themselves. Often it results in rebellion that leads to crime, as one lusts to get what they wants at any cost.  Also, it is seen in great acts of selfishness that either abuses or uses others, to achieve the same goal. Moreover, we see this in an overwhelming self-aggrandizement that places oneself on the throne of life as if all others in life are here to serve them. Well, God says through the apostle Paul, our life doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to God and He has ordered us submit it to him for a stewardship service to Him. Yes, we are not our own and we are all here for this very purpose.

Ezek 18:4 (NIV)  “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins [by denying this in life] is the one who will die.”

1 Cor 4:1-2 (NIV)  So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Now what does this word “servants or stewardship” mean? In the Bible, the word in the Greek literally meant an “under-rower.” You say what’s that? Well in 1^st Century times, boat travel required hand power by oars.  Great ships had two decks where sailors or slaves rowed. The lowest deck was where the lowliest of slaves were placed to serve in propelling the ship. This word then meant someone who was a full-time servant of others in the lowliest of positions. That means, my friend, that you and I were created for God and for all His purposes. Mainly, to serve God and others whom He has created in whatever way you are able and He desires. Now I know this idea of stewardship or servanthood is totally outrageous to the Western mindset. Yet the truth is when one discovers this main purpose for life, all will find the deep blessing and joy that comes from submitting our lives to God for this purpose. You see, God’s Word implies ¾  “That’s Life!

Say friend have you discovered the joy of serving God? Have you discovered the satisfaction that alone comes from making your life count for eternity in this way? You know, death can claim our lives at any moment. The question is, are you prepared to meet your Maker, and answer for the life He gave you? True preparation we find is all bound up in surrendering to Jesus Christ and finding the real purpose for your life, as a servant of the King, and enjoying the beauty of it God has planned.

Now secondly, Paul the apostle tells us another important meaning for life. He says,

2. LIFE IS A SPECIAL GIFT FROM GOD  (1 Pet. 3:7; 1 Cor.4:6-9)– I realize we all begin life thinking our position, place, abilities and training we receive is all our own doing. But think… why is it you were born in a particular world that gave you the opportunity to accomplish all that you’ve done? Millions, perhaps billions of people are born into a world of poverty, crime, degradation and false religions that literally enslave them and keep them in abject misery. You could have entered life there too, but for the grace of God you didn’t. Thus, Paul tells us all that we have in this life is a “gift” and blessing God has given us. We read,

1 Pet 3:7 (NIV)  “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

 

1 Cor 4:7-8 (NIV)   For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us!”

Paul was reminding the Corinthian believers in Christ, that they were not to take for granted what they had or accomplished in life. The fact that many had become rich in the city and had lives of ease ¾ It was not their own doing, rather God granted them the privilege and opportunity to gain all the material blessings around them. Have you acknowledged that all your abilities and blessings of life are really God’s gift to you? How tragic so many go through life spending all those talents, gifts and blessings on themselves, never sharing it with others and for the glory of Jesus Christ. Know this, one day all of us, saved sinners or lost sinners, will stand before God and give an account of our lives lived.
Therefore, I think, it is best to come as early as possible to the understanding that since our lives are a “gift” from God, we do have a responsibility to use it to glorify Him. Say, are you glorifying God with your life? Remember life is short, and death can grab us all suddenly at any age. Is your life counting for God and eternity? That’s life to consider…

Now thirdly, Paul the apostle in his letter to the Corinthians says,

3. LIFE IS A STRUGGLE IN TIME (1 Cor. 4:9-13) – Paul tells the Corinthians that when He gave his life to Christ, he came to realize the above two purposes for his existence, and as such he would accomplish them at whatever cost to please the Lord Jesus who saved him. However, when one steps out for Christ, either by acknowledging Him and then serving Him openly in a world that rejects God and His salvation through Christ – the world becomes our enemy. Listen to the battle Paul tells us enveloped him as he served God.

You see, this world is no friend to Christ nor Christians anywhere. It’s a world existing in total rebellion to God’s plan and purposes for it. Now assuredly, this will only last for a moment in eternity, but when one becomes a Christian, and steps out to use their talents and gifts as a true servant of the Lord, they will find varying degrees of opposition and battle.

What Paul says is don’t shy away from serving the Lord and life for Christ. Be comforted to know others who went before you also suffered at the hands of sinners who hate God and His Word. Yet God promises us His comfort, peace, and inner satisfaction, that in the midst of such persecution and struggles, life will be lived and filled with God’s love and joy. Have you come to realize such life, in Christ, that it will be a life-long struggle? Paul, in another portion of Scripture tells us who and what we are in battle against,

Do you realize that our lives are lived on the battlefield of eternity? There is a massive war going on we cannot see, but we can feel and experience. The Bible tells us that Satan and a third of the heavenly angels rebelled against God in the early moments of creation and since time began, they are attempting to win control of the universe, especially the world of humanity. The Bible also tells us we are all born as sinners, that is in  a state of rebellion to God and everything else that seeks to control us. Why, from a little child, we don’t have to learn to say “no,” to our parent’s wishes and good teachings, it comes naturally. But, we continue through life saying “no” even to God, and all round us, unless something personally benefits or pleases us. Friend, the throne of life for the unsaved sinner is the goal for all living.

However, for the saved sinner who puts his or her trust in Jesus Christ and turns the rulership of their lives over to Christ who died for our sins, God gives life a new meaning and purpose, as we are learning today. However, to walk that path of surrender and obedience to God, will not be a bed of roses, but strewed with thorns and thistles and potholes along the way.

But.. “That’s Life.” Yes, I hope you’ve come to realize it and to depend upon Jesus Christ for the strength for the journey in serving Him. Lastly, in chapter four of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he tells us one more main purpose for life,

4. LIFE IS TO BE A LEARNING JOURNEY  – Yes life is but a “school” where God expects us to learn many things to equip us for living in eternity. Listen again to Paul’s words in the Bible,

I found that when I turned my life over to our Creator God who has revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ, that I discovered the real meaning and purpose of life. Indeed, the sudden death of a dear sister in the Lord at the church I serve, reminded me to reconsider the meaning and purpose of life on earth, which is so short.

Friends, we all need to take fresh inventory, and if we find we come up short in these three areas of life, it’s time to change things and turn our lives over afresh, to the living and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Will you commit today to love and serve Him above all? Will you commit today to acknowledge Him as the Lord and Savior of your life? If you do, you’ll truly enter the world of full satisfaction, meaning and purpose and finally get the real “gusto” out of life! Well friend… "That’s Life," and I hope and pray you’ll find and live it till Jesus comes…

…Death is never a pleasant thing, except if it comes to us who know Jesus Christ. You see God planned physical death as a part payment for the sin of the human race; However, God also planned it as a means for saved humanity to lose forever the old sin nature that keeps us from enjoying our service and the eternal presence of God. Yes, a dear sister in the Lord suddenly fell ill and died recently in my midst. We will miss her, but we comfortingly know she is absent from the body and alive forevermore with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That gives us hope to live our lives to the fullest now and for eternity knowing, we shall see here again.

Friend, what hope do you have? What is the meaning and purpose of your life? I trust you’ll answer by affirming that Jesus Christ is your Lord God and Savior, for in Him alone do we live and have our being.

·         Radio talk #1402

·         Broadcast date: April 07, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.